Dec. 31—Washington didn’t exactly go scorched earth against Latta Friday night during the semifinals of the 47th Annual Bertha Frank Teague Mid-America Classic.
However, the Lady Warriors were scorching inside the usually chilly Kerr Activities Center. Washington sank 7 of its first 10 3-point attempts and left Latta behind early in an emphatic 67-39 victory.
The Lady Warriors, ranked No. 1 in Class 3A, improved to 9-0 on the year, while the Lady Panthers — No. 4 in Class 2A — fell to 10-2.
In Friday night’s other semifinal contest, Dale turned back Seiling 53-43 in a battle of top-ranked clubs. The Lady Pirates, ranked No. 1 in Class 2A, improved to 11-1, while Class A No. 1 Seiling lost for the first time, falling to 4-1.
Washington 67, Latta 39
The Lady Warriors were sizzling right out of the gate. After Preslee Johnson hit back-to-back 3-pointers, Dale led 15-3 at the 3:27 mark of the first quarter.
Breanna Lindert hit back-to-back baskets to end the first quarter and after Eternity Self opened the third quarter by converting an old-fashioned three-point play and the Lady Warriors lead had expanded to 27-8.
Kelby Beller made a 3-pointer and then hit a baseline jumper to end the second period. Laney Parnacher hit Washington’s seventh 3-point basket of the game to open the third quarter to put the Lady Warriors on top 41-16.
Washington made 14 of 25 (56.0%) field goals through the first two frames, while Latta hit just 6 of 22 (27.3%) attempts.
Latta closed the gap to 43-26 after Jayse Smith converted a three-point play, but that’s as close as the Lady Panthers could get.
Smith led the Latta offense with 13 points, including a pair of 3-pointers. Kelbey Parncher finished with eight points, six rebounds and three steals for the Lady Panthers. Macy Parks sank one triple and scored six points.
Beller, the Most Valuable Player of the 2023 Mid-America Classic, led the Washington attack with 20 points, six rebounds and six assists. She made both of her 3-point attempts and finished 4 of 4 from the free-throw line.
Johnson was next with nine points for the Lady Warriors on the strength of three 3-point baskets. Lindert added eight points.
Washington finished 10 of 14 from the free-throw line, while Latta made 9 of 15 attempts.
Dale 53, Seiling 43
Seiling gave Class 2A juggernaut Dale everything it wanted for 28 minutes before the Lady Pirates finally got some breathing room late.
A seesaw first half that featured five ties saw the Lady Pirates clinging to a 31-30 lead at the break.
Dale got off to a 13-6 after Kynlee Bullard sank a 3-pointer with just under four minutes left in the first quarter.
However, the Lady Wildcats finished the first period on a 14-3 surge, capped by Keirstin Briggs’ buzzer-beating 3-point bucket that put her team ahead 20-16.
The game was tied three times in the second quarter — 20-20, 23-23 and 28-28.
Skylar Anderson converted a three-point play to put Dale ahead 31-28. Seiling answered when Lyndlea Nichols hit a layup after a nice cut to the basket to cut the DHS 31-30 at halftime.
The game stayed close throughout the third quarter.
Briggs made a pair of free throws to get Seiling within 38-36. Dale got a basket inside by Danika Pendley that gave the Lady Pirates a 40-36 cushion heading into the final period.
Briggs scored five straight points, including a 3-pointer that cut the DHS lead to 44-41 with 4:32 left in the game.
However, Dale ended the game on a 9-2 run.
Anderson led Dale with 16 points, including a 12 of 13 effort from the charity stripe. Pendley followed with 12 points and eight rebounds.
Teague Muncy filled up the DSH stat sheet with 11 points, 15 rebounds and three assists. She made one 3-pointer.
Briggs turned in a monster double-double for the Lady Wildcats, finishing with 20 points and 19 rebounds. She hit a trio of 3-point shots and made 5 of 7 free throws.
Nichols was next for Seiling with 15 points on 7 of 9 shooting.
The Lady Wildcats finished 6 of 8 from the free-throw stripe and Dale went 16 of 19 from the line.
